Postwar demographic transition and labour development in Japan

Abstract

It is widely recognised that Japan's economic development since the end of' World War II has set something of' a record. Yet, in the early postwar years of' scarcely two decades ago, not only was this unforeseeable but the nation's future economic outlook was considered as unpropitious. The land area to which Japan renounced all right, title and claim at the end of' the war amounted to as much as 83.7 per cent of' the area of' its present territories. Its population was growing rapidly due to the postwar "baby boom" and the repatriation of' some six million Japanese nationals formerly abroad, between 1945 and 1948. Most of its industries were in ruins. Inadequacies of food supply and employment opportunities were widespread.